It’s cold in Sydney at the moment. Not cold enough to grow raspberries, but chilly nonetheless. Cold enough to be flu season and sure enough, I have the flu. I’ve decided the cure is:
- Flu meds + rest
- David Attenborough dvds
- A polarfleece sack
Polarfleece is an amazing fabric. Even if you can’t sew a stitch, you can make yourself a blanket, since this material doesn’t need any finishing. You can just go to Spotlight, buy two metres of fleece, and voila, there’s your blanket. If you wanted to be neat, you could cut the selvages off, hem or even fringe the edges, but none of these things are necessary, as the fleece won’t fray. The fabric is super warm, cuddly, and dead easy to machine wash and dry.
If you can sew, you might want to go just that little bit further and make some polarfleece sacks, which is what I’ve been doing. These have a simple boxed pocket at the end, so you can tuck your feet in when you’re watching tv or sitting at the computer. The pocket seems to amp the warmth up several notches and the cocoon factor makes this an ideal gift for couch potato teenagers. I’m not brilliant at writing sewing instructions, and my grasp on Microsoft Paint is tenuous at the best of times, so please excuse the dodgy illustrations. Having said that, these sacks are pretty easy – you only need to be able to sew a straight seam!
The instructions are here : Sewing a Polarfleece Sack…
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Hmm. Toasty! I can only comment that they encourage studying if the student is motivated and they encourage web surfing if the wearer is so inclined. In summary, they encourage ’stillness’ and some wandering around looking like a colourful medieval monk.
Studying is good. And actually, still is good too. :)
i always spent ages sitting at my desk trying to use a blanket to warm myself up in winter. no matter how hard i tried to fold, curl or manipulate the blanket i could never quite keep my toes warm. until i got the polarfleece sack. it is seriously the best thing for winter. i can sit in shorts and still get warm! i wear it at my desk infront of the tv and anywhere in the house i get cold.
Thanks heaps to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial (im sitting here now at my computer all snug.. cheers!!)
Jonnie, you’ve gotten so tall that I was worried the sack would be too small for you! :) Get that clever old man of yours to make some more, now that I’ve put the instructions up…
Hope to catch up soon, it’s been ages! Celia xx
PS. What is it with you Gen Y’ers and capitals? My niece and Big Boy do the same thing – drives me mad… :)
I think it needs a more attractive name. What about “The-ulTIMate-Super-Snug-Comfort-Ball”
This Polarfleece Sack never leaves my feet now
Oh yes, that’s a much more attractive name…I wonder why I didn’t think of it? :)
PS. Thank you for using capitals. :)
I too am loving the Polarfleece sack. Our computer room is frigid and I am now trying to find a solution to frozen hands, a situation I hadn’t noticed until my feet stopped aching from the cold. The first night I had the thing I fell asleep in it on the couch at 8pm, took it to bed and then jumped down the hallway the following morning until reluctantly parting with it in order to shower. In terms of a name, it’s a cocoon really isn’t it?
It probably is a better name, isn’t it? A polarfleece cocoon.. :)
From which the cold, slug-like creature emerges as a warmed and beautiful butterfly, once spring arrives.. :)
I just lervvvvvvv mine. It has become my second skin, particularly as I am in lockdown! Thank you.xxx
Most welcome, my pink cocooned friend.. :)
I was only thinking this morning how good polar fleece is,
you might remember 10 years ago you made me a purple and jade pull over, it is still going strong and the polar fleece is showing no signs of getting thin etc. Hope you are on the mend, cheers to toastie feet.
Nearly better, thanks Moo. Glad to hear the sweater is still going strong – astonished, but glad! :)
Polar fleece sweaters rule, especially in blue with a zippy collar. Thank you Mrs C for your kind gift this evening. I promise to banish the orange pilgrim number to the depths of my wardrobe… it won’t resurface until 2012 at least. In other news the romertopf clay bakers are a bargain at my local kitchen supply store. And they roast a mean chook. Dredgemeister out.
Most welcome, pilgrim! Couldn’t bear the thought of running into you at the shops again on a 7C Sydney morning in t-shirt! Clay pot post to follow, watch this space. :)